Easel



Oct. 5, 1948.

H. ULLMANN EASEL Filed Oct. 10, 1946 I IIYVENTOR. A KM, z% & 4

Patented Oct. 5, 1 948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- EASEL Henry Ullmann, New York, N. Y. Application October 10, 1946, Serial No. 702,542

9 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to molded frames with easels attached and it has, for its object, the provision of a molded plastic frame, provided as a part of the structure when it leaves the mold with an easel support forming a continuation of a depressed back wall of the structure and having at one end a latching head adapted to be received in a cooperative member of such form that the easel support may be held in either one of two positions for corresponding support of the easel itself.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22, Fig. 1, with the easel support detached from its initial position with its latch head held by the depressed back of the easel in supporting position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, broken away, showing the upper portion of the easel support and a preferred form with a latch head'thereof; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the lower portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2 and along the same sectional line.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown at I the marginal or frame portion of the easel. It may be of any suitable decorative design. Integral with the frame is a depressed back member 2 formed as a plate, and serving as a rear support for a sheet 3, Fig. 2, which customarily will be a photograph or picture.

In order that the picture sheet or photograph may be firmly held in place, the lower edge of the depressed back 2 is outwardly of a shoulder at Ix, Fig. 2, provided 'at the bottom of the marginal frame I, and while the back is unattached to the frame at its top it is attached to the frame area at both sides. This provides at the top a recess at law, Fig. 2, through which the picture sheet, with or without a transparent cover member 4, and a stiff back, may be inserted.

The back 2 is provided with. an opening at 40: in order that an easel support 5 may be molded therein as an initially integral part of the molded structure. The easel support is joined to depressed back 2 by a thin web 6, and inasmuch as the easel support is reinforced at its side margins, and also at its bottom margins, it will readily break away from the thin web at its base when moved laterally by the user, when the easel is set up for use. The head of the easel support is either T or H-shaped, the latter form being shown in the drawing, in order that the arms of such formation, and as indicated at 511:, Fig. 4, may be engaged by the overhanging walls of a coacting latch member I molded inte rally with the back 2. This coacting latch member is shown more particularly in Fig. 3 and it is provided with entrance openings at right angles to each other so that the head of the easel support may be inserted into one opening for support of the frame as shown in Fig. 2 or into the second opening for support of the frame when turned to The device also is formed with recesses at 8 provided with overhanging walls so that the structure may be hung in either one of two positions on a wall, the recesses receiving headed wall fastening members.

The structure when molded is ready for shipment and sale, and either at the time of use or preparatory thereto, easel support 5 may be readily detached by breaking it away from web 6, and inserted into one of the appropriate openings of member I, as to the head of the easel support, or the structure may be hung on a wall by use of one of the expedients hereinbefore described.

By means of the invention a simple and inexpensive structure is provided, produced by a single molding operation and including an easel support which requires no extraneous attaching means. It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements constituting the embodiment illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

An easel made of molded material and consisting of a marginal frame and a depressed back wall having an opening, the margins of the opening being formed with slots located at right angles to the other and formed in hanger receiving areas projected rearwardly of the major plane of the back wall, the back wall also carrying an outwardly projected easel head re-.. ceiving member having two openings, one at HENRY ULLMANN.

REFERENCES CITED 10 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

New York.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Larsen Aug. 12, 1924 Belloch Sept. 8, 1931 Matys Dec. 15, 1931 Gits Nov. 18, 1941 Scheyer July 10, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Plastics Catalog 1945, pages 28 and 264, Plastics Catalogue Publishing 00., 122 E. 42nd St.

(Copy in Scientific Library.) 

